71st OREGON LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY--2001 Regular Session
 
NOTE:  Matter within  { +  braces and plus signs + } in an
amended section is new. Matter within  { -  braces and minus
signs - } is existing law to be omitted. New sections are within
 { +  braces and plus signs + } .
 
LC 3127
 
                           A-Engrossed
 
                         House Bill 3009
                   Ordered by the House May 11
             Including House Amendments dated May 11
 
Sponsored by COMMITTEE ON SMART GROWTH AND COMMERCE (at the
  request of Northwest Natural)
 
 
                             SUMMARY
 
The following summary is not prepared by the sponsors of the
measure and is not a part of the body thereof subject to
consideration by the Legislative Assembly. It is an editor's
brief statement of the essential features of the measure.
 
    { - Allows public utility to request order from Public
Utility Commission that ensures approval of rates adequate to pay
cost of proposed plant or facilities and to pay fair return on
investment in plant or facilities. Provides that commission must
allow utility to charge customers market value of services
provided from completed plant or facilities if commission does
not enter order upon request. - }
   { +  Allows Public Utility Commission to authorize natural gas
public utility to include specified amount in rates for
residential customers to generate funds for bill payment
assistance for low-income residential customers. + }
 
                        A BILL FOR AN ACT
Relating to utilities; amending ORS 757.315.
Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:
  SECTION 1. ORS 757.315 is amended to read:
  757.315. (1) ORS 757.310 does not prevent any public utility
from giving free service, or reduced rates therefor, to:
  (a) Its officers, directors, employees and members of their
families;
  (b) Former employees of such public utilities or members of
their families where such former employees have become disabled
in the service of such public utility or are unable from physical
disqualification, including retirement, to continue in the
service; or
  (c) Members of families of deceased employees of such public
utility.
  (2) The Public Utility Commission may require any public
utility to file with the commission a list, verified under oath,
of all free or reduced rate privileges granted by a public
utility under the provisions of this section.
   { +  (3) The Public Utility Commission may authorize a natural
gas public utility, upon application of the utility, to include
in rates for residential customers of the utility amounts for the
purpose of generating funds to be used for bill payment
assistance to low-income residential customers of the utility.
Funds generated in any year pursuant to an authorization under
this subsection may not exceed an amount equal to one-half of one
percent of the utility's gross revenues in that year from sales
to residential customers in Oregon. + }
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